Kader

Kohou

The 2022 UDFA had spent his entire career in Miami, but missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Now headed into his age-28 campaign, he’s trying to get back to top form after making 38 starts between 2022-24. Primarily a slot man, Kohou is a sensible, experienced flier for a defense basically remaking its secondary from the ground up.

Kohou’s agents announced the news Monday, which comes exactly seven months, to the day, since he suffered a partially torn ACL that caused him to miss the entirety of the 2025 season. It appears unlikely that Kohou will remain with the Dolphins considering the regime change in Miami this offseason, meaning he will likely be forced into a short-term, prove-it-type contract with a change of scenery heading into 2026.

It’s yet another season-ending injury for a Dolphins corner after just one week in camp. Kohou will join fellow corner Artie Burns on injured reserve for the 2025 season. The Dolphins also had safety Ashtyn Davis go down with a foot injury earlier this week. The severity of the issue is unknown, but he was later spotted on crutches and with a walking boot. Kohou appeared in 15 games and was credited with nine starts last year. He broke up eight passes and stole two interceptions. The former UDFA is set to hit free agency in 2026, making the timing of the injury that much worse.

The Dolphins appear dead set on a split with No. 1 CB Jalen Ramsey, which would leave them with slot CB Kader Kohou as the only reliable starter at the position. The 30-year-old Douglas is no longer a high-impact perimeter starter, having produced a single-digit (6.5 percent) forced incompletion rate last year; the first time doing so since 2018. He would still likely be an upgrade over penciled-in perimeter starters, Storm Duck and Cam Smith. Should the team resolve their issues with Ramsey, and sign Douglas, they would suddenly have a decent starting trio on their hands.

Kohou primarily serves as a slot defensive back, though he occasionally mans the perimeter. He notched three pass breakups, two interceptions, 40 tackles and two quarterback pressures last season.

Kohou currently stands as a restricted free agent after finishing the final year on his rookie contract. The Dolphins will now have the ability to match any offer he receives once free agency opens next week.

Cornerback Kendall Fuller was ruled out before kickoff and fellow corner Kader Kohou exited with a back injury in the first half and hasn’t returned as of the third quarter. The slew of injuries leaves Miami drastically undermanned in the secondary for the final quarter.

It sounds like Kohou’s status is in doubt for Week 10 as well after what we assume will be a full week of DNPs. With no Kohou, it’s likely that Khalil Shakir is set to run free on Miami’s secondary as long as the Dolphins put up enough points to keep the game from being scripted away from the pass.

The same injury sidelined Kohou in Week 8 and Jalen Ramsey correspondingly logged a season-high 34 snaps lined up over the slot. With the Dolphins heading to Buffalo to take on the Bills’ three-deep wide receiver corps, Kohou’s availability could have a ripple effect for fantasy purposes. The situation will be monitored.